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Chamber forum puts spotlight on mayoral candidates

Chamber forum puts spotlight on mayoral candidates

Mayoral candidates Tom Watson and Pam Smith-Wright discussed their plans and ideas for the city for a second time this week, when they answered questions Thursday morning at a forum hosted by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce.

Smith-Wright and Watson, who both have long careers in city government, discussed a wide range of issues, including gun violence, local taxation, merging city and county governments and projects.

The candidates spoke at the Chamber of Commerce’s “Rooster Booster” breakfast at the Owensboro Convention Center.

“I spend my time for Owensboro, because this is where I was born and I love,” Smith-Wright said in her opening statement. “I want to see us grow, I want to see is be different than what we have been.”

Watson, who is running for a third consecutive term and four term overall, said, “I have had the opportunity to be your mayor for 12 years, and it has been a very humbling experience.

“I’m just one of five” members of the city commission, Watson said. “For anything to get done, you have to the famous three votes. Proudly, in the years I’ve been mayor, we may have had only one vote that hadn’t been unanimous on our commission. I think through my leadership … we’ve been able to do things other communities can’t do.”

When asked about what the city could do to reverse what moderator Jared Revlett described as “shootings are being reported on a daily basis.”

Watson said he commended the work of the Owensboro Police Department and other cities agencies.

“The number one job of an elected official is public safety, obviously,” Watson said. “…I think a little bit of caution (about saying) ‘increased shootings.’ I’m really not aware that is going on, but I’ll take your word for it.

“All of these issues come down to ‘kitchen table’ issues: If you’re not being raised properly and you don’t have the opportunity to have both parents there a lot of times, or one parent has to work, I think it’s difficult to get those ‘kitchen table’issues that keep you off the street,” Watson said.

Smith-Wright said she has been endorsed by the local Fraternal Order of Police, and that she respects OPD and first responders.

Smith-Wright also said parents need to play a role in curbing violence.

“I think this generation of parents are not engaged with their children, and sometimes they are not even at home with their children,” Smith-Wright said. “These kids can obtain weapons from wherever — from in the house and from cars that are not locked,” which increases crime, she said.

“We have to do something about the parenting aspect of it, and trying to stop this,” Smith-Wright said.

The candidates were asked about affordable housing, particularly changing local zoning laws that prohibit having more than one detached dwelling on a parcel of land, which prohibits the construction of more than one “tiny home” on properties.

Watson said he is seeking a grant to put 11 to 12 tiny homes in front of the Elizabeth Munday Center, which he said would be a “start,” but didn’t specifically address zoning changes. The homes could be used as transitional housing, until a person had the resources to afford a larger home, Watson said.

Smith-Wright said the issue could be solved through economic development.

“I think we need some better-paying jobs in our community,” Smith-Wright. “That would also help people who are trying to own their first home.”

Smith-Wright also didn’t address zoning changes but said, if tiny homes were constructed by the city to help the homeless, “what are you going to do after you build it? You still have utilities, you still have all those things. Who pays for that?” Smith-Wright said she would have to research tiny homes, but hadn’t ruled it out.

Revlett, who is a member of the Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber Young Professionals, asked the candidates what the city could do to create professional opportunities for people under age 45?

Watson said he would “give them an opportunity to serve on the Young Professionals, give them an opportunity to serve on the Chamber of Commerce, and not just come and say, ‘what can you do for me?’ It’s a partnership, and the city is happy to partner with the young people,” Watson said, and that, “we’ll do as much as we can to keep young people here.”

Smith-Wright said, “We have to let our young people know we are interested in what they want,” and then pivoted to point in her campaign, that, if elected, she would be the first woman mayor.

“This city has been run by men for the last 29 mayors, and I want to change that,” Smith-Wright said. “I want you to know I am interested in young people, and I would like to create, I don’t know if it would be a board, but create an opportunity for them to tell us what they would like to see in Owensboro, because they live here as well.”

Both Watson said they supported “home rule,” which would allow the city to create its own taxes such as restaurant taxes. When asked about city cooperation with Daviess Fiscal Court, Smith-Wright said, “I don’t think that’s a big deal.”

“I think all we have to do is be able to communicate with someone,” Smith-Wright said.

If elected mayor, Smith-Wright said she’s have an “open door” to the judge-executive.

“We don’t have to have combined government for us to get along,” Smith-Wright said.

Watson said, “I’m for merged government,” but he also meets monthly with Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen, and said City Manger Nate Pagan meets with county officials on a regular basis.

“I don’t there’s a big problem there” between city and county government, Watson said.

Asked if there was an exciting city project they would like to pursue, Smith-Wright said she would be interested in the idea of a banjo-shaped ferris wheel. The idea of the ferris wheel/drop tower was floated by a Nashville developer in 2019.

“It would serve all ages of people,” Smith-Wright said. “Everybody loves a ferris wheel.

Watson said, “I’d like to merge governments, and, along with that, have a new courthouse built for merged government and turn the downtown courthouse into a bed and breakfast.

Watson closed the forum by stressing his connections with Frankfort and other agencies.

“If I have a value, it’s my relationships I’ve build over the last 40 years in Frankfort and Washington and even Indianapolis, trying to do things like build roads,” Watson said.

Smith-Wright said the election was a time city residents could make a change.

“I look at the city as our home, and every now and then you move furniture around, you change it around to get a different aspect,” Smith-Wright said, and said, “I would ask that you look at me as part of your home and being something different.”

Later, Smith-Wright said, “Mayor Watson came in, and he changed the view of his house. I’m asking you to give me the same chance you gave him, so we can change the view of our home.”

James Mayse Messenger- Inquirer

 

Rooster Booster to feature Mayoral forum, CYP accepting Halloween costume donations

Rooster Booster to feature Mayoral forum, CYP accepting Halloween costume donations

Thursday’s Rooster Booster breakfast will feature a Mayoral forum, and the Chamber Young Professionals will be accepting Halloween costume donations that will be given to local youth.

The event will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Owensboro Convention Center (501 West Second Street) in Exhibit Hall One. The program is sponsored by Owensboro Community and Technical College.

The cost to attend is $15 for Chamber members with reservations, $20 for members with no reservations, and $25 for non-members. Reservations include breakfast, which will be served buffet-style at the beginning of the event.

The Mayoral forum, featuring candidates Tom Watson and Pam Smith-Wright, will be moderated by Jared Revlett, Owensboro Public Schools Public Information Officer.

“A primary goal of our Chamber is to be a catalyst for economic growth. Civic engagement is a key component of strong and bustling communities,” said Candance Castlen Brake, President and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. “The Mayoral race is extremely important to the community’s future. The occupant of the office sets the tone for our community and can guide many important discussions. It is of critical importance that our community understand the platforms of those running for Mayor. The Chamber is proud to create this opportunity for the candidates and for the voters.”

The Chamber Young Professionals will be accepting new and/or gently used Halloween costume donations at the registration tables. All costumes will be donated to local elementary school students.

Make your reservation and pay online at business.chamber.owensboro.com/events, or call the Chamber office at 270-926-1860 by 2 p.m. on October 2.

By Ryan Richardson The Owensboro Times

Chamber Member of the Week: Cheetah Clean

Chamber Member of the Week: Cheetah Clean

Cheetah Clean has been named Owensboro’s Chamber Member of the Week by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, recognizing its 17 years of service to the community and its continued commitment to innovation and impact. 

Social Media and Events Coordinator Kaylee Fields said the carwash is known for its customer-focused approach. Most recently, Cheetah Clean opened a second location on Frederica Street, which began operations in April.

Fields said the state-of-the-art facilities are designed for both convenience and quality, featuring a flat belt conveyor system that makes loading stress-free. 

“With the addition of our signature prep process and innovative beast brush technology, we can ensure that each car receives top-tier treatment,” Fields said. “Customers can also enjoy free premier amenities with every wash, making each visit exceptional.”

She added that Cheetah Clean’s mission is to make a positive impact on the communities it serves. This was recently demonstrated through a partnership with Puzzle Pieces, a local nonprofit that supports individuals with disabilities. A special promotion over the summer raised $10,000 for Puzzle Pieces, with $5 from each wash redeemed via a QR code going directly to the nonprofit. Fields said the effort further reinforced Cheetah Clean’s commitment to giving back.

In addition to offering unlimited wash plans starting at $29.99 per month, Cheetah Clean also provides customers with free roadside assistance and automatic entries into the 2024 HAF Big Red Corvette Raffle.

The car wash also emphasizes building a cleaner and stronger community. Fields said they remain grateful for the ongoing support of the Owensboro community as they expand their reach and service offerings.

By John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times

City Commission candidates make their cases at Chamber forum

City Commission candidates make their cases at Chamber forum

The candidates for Owensboro City Commission were questioned on issues such as homelessness, housing and crime Tuesday night in a forum sponsored by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce.

The candidates included two incumbents looking to keep their seats, a former commissioner looking to return to City Hall and four challengers who have not held a local office before. The discussion touched on issues as widely diverging as what the city should to do draw more economic development, the city’s role in creating affordable housing and homes for the homeless, and on city taxes.

When asked what motivated him to run, Tyler Goad, Navy ROTC instructor at Daviess County High School, said his focus was bringing Owensboro up to speed to make it a great place for businesses to either build or move to.

“I feel like business is where we can create more hope for this community,” Goad said. “We can expand the tax base without having to raise taxes, and make the city have more money in its coffers to bear on some of the issues and problems we have.”

Jeff Sanford, a former commissioners and real estate agent, said his focus on seeking a new term is because officials “really need to concentrate on industry.”

“We all have to get on the same page and talk to Frankfort as one — city, county, Chamber, EDC, all of us — have to have the same message: Industrial park. We have to have some place to put businesses.”

Commissioner Sharon NeSmith said she is running partly on transparency in government.

“Every time we do something in Owensboro there are 1,700 versions of why we did it and how we did it and who we did it to,” NeSmith said. “I would like it to be very transparent on what happens in our town and why it happens.

“One of my goals is, in whatever we do, we tell you who we are doing it for, why we’re doing it, when are we going to do it, how are we going to pay for it and who it will impact the most.”

Commissioner Bob Glenn said the city has three challenges — access to affordable housing, homelessness and gun violence.

“Those are not easy solutions,” Glenn said. On housing, Glenn said, “I think this commission has done a great job in terms of affordable housing,” but that the city needed to go more on housing and homelessness.

“I’m looking forward to addressing all three of those issues,” Glenn said.

Curtis Maglinger, a small business owner, said, “We need to focus on talent and recruitment, development and retention,” and that he would also stress city collaboration with other local agencies.

“When we all work together, we can achieve great things,” Maglinger said.

Robert Morris, a business owner, said he was motivated to run by reading and watching about local government.

“I grew a passion for it,” Morris said, and that he has a “two-year plan” if he is elected commissioner.

“If you’ve here for so long (on the commission) and there’s still a lot of things you need to be done, then you’ve been here too long,” Morris said.

Regarding his plan, Morris said, “You’ve got to look at the infrastructure, the roads, the overhead electric.”

Rafe Buckner, a business owner, said homelessness is a major concern that prompted him to run.

“For the last 10 years, I’ve watched our homeless population grow,” said Buckner, who is head of the Northwest Neighborhood Alliance. “I would like to see us come up with some affordable housing for that issue, as well as some zoning changes that allow us to do some things different than we have on affordable housing.

“I think we need to turn over every stone if we’re going to be a community that is welcoming of people like we have been,” Buckner said.

When asked what city government could do about crime, Sanford said the issue “starts at home with the parents.”

“A lot of these kids that get in trouble with the shootings … (city government) can set a tone; we can help our police officers; we can give them raises, but these kids, I did a lot of coaching in my time, and a lot of time they didn’t get very good upbringing.

“That’s a pretty tough thing to handle and our police officers can only do so much,” Sanford said. “They’re handling shootings and they’re handing the homeless.”

NeSmith agreed with Sanford by saying, “if you go back three generations, it seems the idea of parenting started changing,” adding that children who were raised by permissive parents became permissive to their own children.

“I’m very concerned about the shootings. That doesn’t sound like it’s Owensboro,” NeSmith said, and that officers have complained when a person is arrested “(they’re) writing up the report and that person is getting in a car and leaving.”

NeSmith said, “We’ve got to figure out who is making these laws” regarding the courts, “and what do we need to do from a Frankfort standpoint and a federal standpoint.”

Glenn said violence “is fueled by drugs and gangs” and that the Owensboro Police Department officers are making arrests on large drug investigations. Regarding teens and children, Glenn said, “they have to have a pathway to hope.”

The city supports agencies that work with young people, such as Western Academy at the Neblett and Breaking the Cycle, Glenn said.

“We will continue to do so because we see that as a pathway and conduit of getting young men and young women away from drugs and a life of crime.”

City facilities should be used for youth activities, Glenn said.

Maglinger said crime “is a complicated issue that doesn’t have a simple answer, but getting the community stakeholders involved and the community involved that’s what’s going to help … I would be one to collaborate with them and with the full community.”

Morris also said part of the issue lies with the judicial system

“I think we need to be tougher on crime and our judges need to be a whole lot tougher,” Morris said.

Regarding crime, Morris said he would also support a earlier curfew “to separate the good folks from the bad folks.”

Buckner said, “We need to look at the root (of crime). We need to support families and we need to support those grass-roots programs that are actually out there touching families and touching these kids.”

Buckner said he would also work to get people involved in youth mentorship programs.

“If you have four or five kids and your a single mother and you’re working eight-hour shifts, and these kids are just out there walking around,” he said. “I think we have to encourage mentorship and get people more involved.”

Buckner also called for people to be more responsible with their guns, citing the number of firearms thefts in the city from unlocked vehicles.

“I think we need to be talking a little bit more about responsible gun ownership,” Buckner said.

Goad said access to good jobs plays a role in youth crime.

“The things we mentioned here point to absentee parents more than parents who neglected to do their duty,” Goad said. “I think that’s part of the economic conditions in the city as well: We have people who are working too many jobs to make ends meet, and so they are absent from the home and absent from their children.”

Goad said the way to keep at-risk youth out of trouble is to involve them in after-school activities and getting teens mentors.

When asked what role the city has in helping the homeless and combating substance abuse, Glenn said the city is working to address affordable housing through the Community Development department and partnerships with Habitat for Humanity. The city also works with local homeless shelters, Glenn said.

“We need to decide … do we go with a temporary place where these people can live, like a facility or an encampment, or do we look at just building affordable housing and getting them in there?” Glenn said.

Glenn, who is on the board of St. Benedict’s Homeless Shelter, said, “rapid rehousing model … appears to be the way to go.”

“You get people off the street, and after you get them off the street in housing, you get them help with drug addiction and mental health issues,” Glenn said.

Maglinger said “there’s no silver bullet” to addressing those issues, but that the city had agencies that work with the homeless and people with mental illness.

“Let’s get them together and find ways to reduce existing problems,” Maglinger said. “We have to work together.”

Morris said he has seen housing that is unaffordable in the city, and that “we need to get money from Frankfort” for housing. “We’ve got to have their help. “A homeless encampment doesn’t sound right to me.”

Morris suggested the city convert old houses and involve homeless people in the refurbishing process.

Buckner city officials “should be meeting with folks that deal with the homeless and should be meeting with folks that deal with mental illness and our police department.”

“We should be coming up with a plan, but I would like to see it as a plan coming from us,” Buckner said.

Goad said there are multiple issues that contribute to homelessness, and that, “what I would like to see is for us to conduct a study and figure out what our location’s homelessness issues are, and start diverting resources to that, in terms of expertise and in some cases, money.

“I’d like to see us route money from state and national sources to this problem,” Goad said.

Later, Goad said, “Building a better business environment is one of the solutions here. By creating jobs, we create hope.”

Sanford said he would support taking the Community Development Department’s Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area program, which targets specific parts of town, and expanding it city-wide.

“There are houses everywhere that investors will invest in,” Sanford said. “They can take these houses and put them back on the tax roles, which helps the city, and also gives people something affordable to live in.”

Sanford said the city should work with mental health providers to help address mental illness in the community.

NeSmith said “homelessness is a circumstance, it’s not a crime,” and that, “the key focus is prevention.

“You can’t fix something with a Band-Aid. You’ve got to find the root cause, and then try to start (to) change the root cause,” NeSmith said.

Moderator Jared Revlett, chair of the Chamber Young Professionals, noted the city’s occupational and net profit tax rates are at “all all-time high,” and asked candidates if they would support “local home rule,” to allow cities the size of Owensboro authority to create other revenue options. Those options could include a restaurant tax.

When asked how they would pursue “home rule,” which would require a state constitutional amendment, Morris said, “I think as far as our taxes go, our assessments on our properties have gotten so high. I know the state brings that assessment … but we can adjust it here and help lower the taxes.

“I think our tax dollars are being used not well on projects we don’t need to use them for.”

Buckner said, “Fiscally, I think I’m a conservative person. I’m tight with my own money so I would be the same way with other folks’ money.”

Home rule helped Beaver Dam create its amphitheater, Buckner said. Regarding taxes generally, “I would have to dig a little deeper to see what we can do to lower taxes,” Buckner said.

Goad said of home rule cities “we can’t fix that. We fix that at the state level. It’s our job as city commissioners to communicate our city’s needs up to the state level. That’s what we need to do, and we do that forcibly and strongly to our elected leaders at the state level.”

Sanford said, to lower local taxes, “you have more people paying taxes.”

“That’s why I keep talking about an industrial park,” Sanford said, adding later “the more people we have paying taxes, the less taxes the rest of us have to pay, because we have more people paying into the math.”

“Home rule would be great, but I’m not going to count on that,” Sanford said.

NeSmith said, “I never have understood why we are not all equal” in terms of small towns being allowed home rule, while cities like Owensboro do not have the same authority.

“They have advantages we don’t have because of their size,” NeSmith said of smaller communities. “They get a lot more incentives. I think there should be some fairness there.”

Glenn said, “This commission has been excellent stewards of our money” and has undertaken projects to control flooding in the York neighborhoods, and to build the indoor sports complex. The hotel bed tax for the sportsplex is a version of home rule. We are not allowed to do a restaurant tax, and I’ll be honest, I don’t want a restaurant tax.”

Glenn said the city recently lowered its property tax.

“If there are opportunities to lower taxes, we will,” he said, and that, “the city has never been in better financial condition.”

But with the state eliminating income taxes, that will result in higher sales taxes, Glenn said.

Maglinger said, “I think home rule would be a game changer for our community, and I would support that. “I ran some numbers: A 1% sales tax, you could bring in $13 million to $14 million a year.”

At least one other forum is planned for city commission candidates, on Oct. 4 at Kentucky Wesleyan College. Forums for mayoral candidates are planned for next Monday at the Daviess County Public Library, and at the Chamber of Commerce’s Rooster Booster Breakfast on Oct. 3. The Chamber’s “Red, White & Blue” candidate forum is set for Oct. 24.

By James Mayse Messenger- Inquirer

AACCC expands services with new facility at Pitino Shelter

AACCC expands services with new facility at Pitino Shelter

Local and state officials, health care professionals and community members gathered on the front porch of the Daniel Pitino Shelter on Monday for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Audubon Area Community Care Clinic’s newest facility located inside the nonprofit organization in an effort to enhance access to health and behavioral health services for vulnerable populations.

According to a press release, the clinic will “specifically focus on delivering quality, integrated health care to low-income, vulnerable and homeless individuals” by offering services to patients who are newly sober, HIV or hepatitis C positive, refugees, individuals suffering from addiction and migrant workers.

The new clinic — which will serve residents of the shelter and its surrounding neighborhood — marks the opening of AACCC’s third primary brick-and-mortar facility, along with the clinics located in each school within the Owensboro Public Schools district.

It is also the first AACCC facility to be located in the west end of Owensboro.

“We live in a world where health care is often seen as a privilege, but today we’re taking a powerful step towards making it a right for everyone regardless of their circumstances,” said Samantha Taylor-Kaai, AACCC clinic program director. “The people who will walk through the doors of this clinic have often faced unimaginable hardships and, for many of them, the basic right to health care has been out of reach for far too long.

“Homelessness is not just a housing crisis, but also a public health crisis. The stress and instability that comes with not having a home can lead to serious health problems both physical and mental,” Taylor-Kaai said. “But today, we’re saying something different.”

“My fellow board members and I, as well as our staff and providers, feel that everyone deserves access to health care,” said Michael Johnson, AACCC board chair, “… By providing a health care clinic with quality services in this underserved community, Audubon Area is closing the gap on the medically underserved and therefore making this community more healthier, stronger and better.

Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman touted the “momentous occasion” and the newly formed partnership between AACCC and the Pitino Shelter.

“… Success doesn’t happen in a vacuum, it doesn’t happen overnight; and working together is how we solve the biggest challenges facing our communities — and that is exactly what we’re here celebrating today,” Coleman said Monday.

In January, it was announced AACCC received a three-year $275,000 grant from the Kentucky Association of Health Plans, which helped in renovating an existing space within the shelter to create a clinical exam room that will be able to run full-scale labs and dedicated reception and triage areas.

“We work tirelessly to strengthen the accessibility, value and quality of health care for all Kentuckians,” said Tom Stephens, president and chief executive officer of KAHP, the trade association representing Medicaid-managed care organizations and commercial health insurers throughout the state. “… Today makes a significant step forward in our … efforts to improve health care access in Owensboro.

“This clinic is more than just a new medical facility; it’s a beacon of hope and a testament of what we can achieve when we work together,” Stephens said. “… We’re not just opening a clinic; we’re removing barriers to health care.”

According to the press release, the clinic is for patients with and without insurance and also provides a sliding fee scale to ensure affordable care based on household size and income.

“This is really going to help us get back to our roots of really getting in, and serving the homeless community and meeting their needs where they are,” Taylor-Kaai said. “… Our ultimate hope and goal for this clinic is really to bridge the health care gap.”

By Freddie Bourne Messenger-Inquirer

Local officials meet with D.C. ‘decision-makers’

Local officials meet with D.C. ‘decision-makers’

A group that included business leaders, elected officials and heads of agencies such as the Owensboro Riverport, Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport and Owensboro Health traveled to Washington, D.C. last week, for two days of meetings with national leaders, including members of the Biden Administration.

The trip was organized by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has sponsored the trip annually since 2016, as a way to both acquaint national leaders with community initiative and goals, and to establish contacts between local and federal officials.

“The Chamber is honored every year to put together a group of business leaders to go to our nation’s capital,” Chamber president and CEO Candance Castlen Brake said. “Our trips are an opportunity to highlight some of the amazing things going on in Owensboro, and also to connect with legislators and staff members, to be contacts for our members and community projects.”

The group included city Mayor Tom Watson, County Commissioner Chris Castlen and chamber board members representing organizations such as German American Bank, Catholic Charities, UniFirst, Southern Star and the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corp.

Officials also gave presentations to White House officials about the Western Academy at the Neblett, which works with young Black males and teens to become future community leaders, and HealthForce Kentucky, the region education initiative that works with students to instruct future medical professionals.

Olga McKissic, the Chamber board’s chairwoman-elect and director of Western Academy, said she presented to officials from the White House Department of Public Engagement.

McKissic said Chamber leadership asked, “’do you mind talking about Western Academy?’ and I said, ‘I will talk about Western Academy anywhere.’ ”

“I was able to talk to them about why Western Academy was established, and it was because of the gun violence in our community in 2018,” McKissic said. “We are raising positive Black men who will be leaders in the community and will stay in the community.”

“It was definitely eye-opening to be part of the D.C. fly-in, and I appreciate so much that I was able to go,” McKissic said. When talking with White House officials, “they were taking notes and giving recommendations” on how federal agencies such as the Department of Education could help Western Academy in the future, McKissic said.

“I felt they were impressed with what Owensboro is doing,” McKissic said.

Bart Darrell, a board member and chancellor of HealthForce Kentucky, said the annual trips keep federal officials informed about local initiatives.

“Generally speaking, we go every year to make sure Owensboro is known by our national legislators,” Darrell said, and that part of the trip is to introduce “if not emphasize our community economic priorities.”

“It’s a chance to go a little bit of a deep-dive on issues,” Darrell said.

One of the meetings was with officials from the Department of Transportation, to discuss community infrastructure such as highways and the riverport, Darrell said.

Susan Montalvo-Gesser, director of Catholic Charities and Chamber board member, said the meeting was an opportunity to talk directly to officials like Sen. Mitch McConnell.

“The Chamber staff is really organized, and they do a great job of getting us in front of the right people and making sure Owensboro is on the map” in Washington, Montalvo-Gesser said.

Watson said federal officials also met with Rep. Brett Guthrie and members of Sen. Rand Paul’s staff to discuss local infrastructure, and issues such as economic development and immigration.

The group also met with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“I really want people to know we have access” in Washington, Watson said. “I have been on a bunch of these, and I think this might have been our best effort at getting our story told. The people at these meetings were the decision-makers.”

By James Mayse Messenger-Inquirer

Crazy Me Gifts & Apparel thrives on personalized service and community support

Crazy Me Gifts & Apparel thrives on personalized service and community support

Crazy Me Gifts & Apparel has been a staple in the Owensboro community since Donna Southard launched the business from her home in 2013. What started as a small operation has since grown into a full-fledged storefront on 235 East 20th Street. 

The shop offers various unique gifts and personalized products that Southard says have garnered a loyal local following.

“We have so many top sellers,” Southard said. “Happy Everything is really popular – it’s an attachable program where you buy a base and switch out seasonal attachments. We also offer exclusive lines like Nora Fleming and Scout.”

Southard added that Crazy Me sets itself apart through its personalized services, including custom embroidery, laser engraving, and UV printing. 

“We make a lot of the items in our store,” she said. “We even print our own T-shirts and have a new UV printer that’s been exciting to use.”

Beyond the products, Southard emphasized the importance of relationships and the support she has received from the local community, including regularly voting them the top gift shop in Ownebsoro. 

Southard’s dedication to the community extends beyond the walls of her shop. Crazy Me Gifts & Apparel supports numerous local fundraisers, and the store provides free delivery to funeral homes and hospitals, particularly for bereavement gifts. 

“It’s personal for us,” she said. “We’re here for the fun occasions like weddings and birthdays, but also for the hard times.”

As the shop gears up for the holiday season, Southard encourages shoppers to check out their social media pages for the latest on sales and special events. With a motto that promises “every gift is a little bit crazy with a whole lot of love,” Southard said Crazy Me Gifts & Apparel remains focused on providing heartfelt, personalized service for each customer.

By John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times

Officials dedicate GRITS expansion

Officials dedicate GRITS expansion

Local officials and state and federal transportation officials covering much of the south and southeast joined with leaders from Audubon Area Community Services and the Green River Intra-County Transit System Tuesday, to formerly dedicate the new GRITS office expansion on St. Elizabeth Street.

The 4,790 square-foot office expansion was built onto the existing GRITS offices and parking garage, and culminates a project that began with then U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning secured a $3 million grant to begin building the GRITS parking garage downtown in 2003.

“This is like a perfect act of federalism,” Candance Castlen Brake, president and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, told a small audience at Tuesday’s ribbon cutting ceremony. “You have federal, state and local government all coming together to make something super-cool for our community.”

The project received more than one injection of funds, and was also supported by local dollars from Daviess Fiscal Court.

GRITS provides low-cost or zero-cost rides, including rides to medical appointments for Medicaid recipients.

“You all change lives every day,” Brake told GRITS Director Dan Lanham. “I see that in my own neighborhood for the people who are homebound who get to get out because of what you do and the services you provide. They’re game-changers.”

GRITS is a part of Audubon Area Community Services.

Rob Jones, Audubon Area’s CEO, said “it has been a long journey” to get the expansion built.

“I can tell you it was quite a job” working through with the contractor to get the project completed.

“(Bids) did come in above cost, and it was only because of the flexibility of our state and federal transportation partners that we were able to handle that, and still get that work done,” Jones said.

Lanham said GRITS has grown from four vehicles up to a fleet of 115 vehicles today, which cover 22 counties. The agency’s growth required more space, Lanham said.

When GRITS moved into the office space built into the parking garage, the space was completely filled, Lanham said.

“The day we moved in, we realized we had grown and it was too small,” Lanham said.

“Now we have a workable facility,” Lanham said. The expansion will “work for our folks and help us serve the public for years to come,” Lanham said. “The interesting thing about this project is we never moved out. We stayed her the whole time.”

The project included both building the new addition and then renovating the existing office space, including enlarging the ride dispatch center.

Yvette Taylor, regional manager of the Federal Transportation Administration’s Region 4, which covers Kentucky and much of the southeast, said the project was supported by $400,000 in federal construction dollars and by $1.5 million in federal covid-19 relief dollars.

“If it weren’t for the support of the Biden-Harris Administration, projects like this would not happen,” Taylor said. “They have endured and invested a lot of money across our nation to improve our infrastructure.”

Having the GRITS system “promotes equity,” Taylor said.

“It helps to give people more opportunity to touch more parts of their community, so we are thankful for your commitment to transit,” Taylor said.

By James Mayse Messenger-Inquirer

CVB, EDC, chamber form partnership

CVB, EDC, chamber form partnership

The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corp. and the Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau have formed a partnership to work together to promote the community.

Mark Calitri, the CVB’s president, told his board Tuesday that “collaboration is essential for communities to grow.”

Candance Castlen Brake, chamber president, said, “We’ve talked about things we can do together. It’s important for the community to have confidence in what we’re doing. We need a partnership.”

City Commissioner Mark Castlen said the chamber’s monthly Rooster Booster breakfast has “excitement in the air. We’re the envy of the state.”

Brake said, “The economy is built on feelings. When people start a business here, that’s confidence. It gives me hope.”

In other business:

• Calitri said the CVB has a new portable digital billboard on a hydraulic lift that can take it up to 10 feet.

It has a 10-foot screen and will be taken to various places in the community to support events here.

He said the county will move it, store it and provide a generator to run it.

• Calitri said he learned in conversations with Churchill Downs that Owensboro Racing & Gaming, 460 Wrights Landing Road, plans to open in February.

And the 145-room Home2 Suites by Hilton across from the Owensboro Convention Center is scheduled to open in March.

• Calitri said the summer has been good for local hotels.

The CVB compares itself with Bowling Green, Paducah and Elizabethtown.

In July, Owensboro hotels had a 60% occupancy rate, second only to Bowling Green’s 62.5%.

And in August, Owensboro led all four cities with 66% occupancy.

• Calitri read a letter from Special Olympics Kentucky that said that its recent state softball tournament in Owensboro was the most successful ever and that the organization hoped to be back next year and “for several years to come.”

• Dave Kirk, destination management director, said he plans to go to the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass starting Sept. 23 in Raleigh, North Carolina, to see if Owensboro can get part of the event back.

The International Bluegrass Music Association was located in Owensboro from 1985 to 2003.

Its Fan Fest and Awards Show were here until 1997.

By Keith Lawrence Messenger-Inquirer

Chamber, EDC, Visit Owensboro partnering to drive community growth

Chamber, EDC, Visit Owensboro partnering to drive community growth

Representatives from Visit Owensboro, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation met earlier this month to discuss ways to strengthen their collaboration. The ongoing conversation aims to align their efforts and improve community engagement.

At Tuesday’s Visit Owensboro board meeting, Chamber President and CEO Candance Castlen Brake spoke about the importance of the collaboration. She emphasized that understanding what each organization does and finding common ground to work together is crucial to their collective success.

“We know how critical it is for the community to have confidence in organizations driving our economy forward,” Brake said. “Anytime we can collaborate, it’s important. The most significant thing we can do is build partnerships, especially for small businesses that need these relationships to thrive.”

Brake also highlighted the Chamber’s impact on the local business community, particularly through initiatives aimed at young professionals. City Commissioner Mark Castlen praised Brake’s leadership. 

“She runs the Chamber like a well-oiled machine,” Castlen said. “There’s electricity at those Rooster Booster meetings, and we’re the envy of the state because of how our Chamber is run.”

Claude Bacon, GO EDC president and CEO and Visit Owensboro board chair, also weighed in on the collaboration. 

“Bringing our organizations together helps foster new relationships and strengthen existing ones,” Bacon said. “We’re leveraging collective intelligence to drive creativity and find better solutions.”

Visit Owensboro president Mark Calitri echoed the sentiment. 

“Partnership and collaboration are crucial for successful cities,” Calitri said. “The goal is to create an opportunity to work together. Thinking long-term and maximizing our resources are essential to our community’s success.”

In other updates from the Visit Owensboro meeting, Calitri announced that Owensboro Racing and Gaming, owned by Churchill Downs, is on track to open in February of next year. Additionally, the new Home2Suites in downtown Owensboro should be completed by March.

Leaders also celebrated the success of hosting the Special Olympics State Softball Tournament, which received positive feedback from participants and organizers. Visit Owensboro showcased a new digital billboard sign that can be moved to various locations and events around the county. They also announced the return of USSSA baseball tournaments and a partnership with Holiday World, utilizing influencers to promote Owensboro as a preferred stay destination for visitors to the theme park.

Other news included the introduction of Christina Collins as a new associate specializing in sporting events. Owensboro will also host the AA state volleyball and soccer championships this week, and Collins will dive in head first. 

Lastly, Comic Con returns to the Owensboro Convention Center on October 5-6, featuring celebrity guests like Patrick Duffy, the original Power Rangers, and Jake “The Snake” Roberts.

By John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times